Iran open to top-level talks with US: foreign minister

TEHRAN - Agence France-Presse

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif leaves after listening to U.S. President Barack Obama address the U.N. General Assembly on September 24, 2013 in New York City. AFP photo

Iran is ready to engage in high-level talks with long-time foe the United States, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in comments published Thursday by official news agency IRNA.
 
"A meeting is not an end in itself, nor is it ruled out... President (Hassan) Rouhani has no problem in principle" with meeting US President Barack Obama, he said.
 
"It would have been a good beginning," Zarif added of speculation that such a meeting was to take place this week in New York, but in the end never did.